Wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda are undaunted by the elite opposition they will be up against in their respective events in the World Paralympic Games.
Mangliwan, who was struck by polio at the age of two, spiced by some colorful language in Filipino that was unfit to print that drove home his resolve and determination to do well.
“Ang umaayaw ay hindi mag-wawagi. Kaya hindi tayo umaayaw,” he said.
Aceveda, who suffered a degenerative disease at the age of three that has left her technically blind in both eyes, echoed the sentiments of Mangliwan in an interview on Monday, Aug. 23, at the Athlete’s Village.
“Kung titignan natin ‘yong record nila (ang kalaban), malakas po sila. Pero malakas din po tayo,” Aceveda said.
Aceveda, who won three golds in the 2013 ASEAN Para Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, was aware of the challenges they are facing in their stint, fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Salang-sala na po yan sa bansang pinanggalingan nila so battle of the champions na po yan. Eh, hindi po tayo susuko,” said the 50-year-old mother of three.
Mangliwan, who was the Philippine contingent’s standard-bearer during the opening ceremonies at the Japan National Stadium on Tuesday night, will be the first to see action on Friday in the T52 men’s 400-meter race. The heats are scheduled in the morning while the finals will be in the evening.
Coach Joel Deriada believes that the 2016 Rio Para Games veteran can reach the finals of the first of three events if he plays his cards right.
“Nakita na namin ‘yong record ng kalaban ni coach Joel kaya nakita namin may malaking pag-asa ako makapasok sa event na to,” Mangliwan said. “Yun ang pinaka-goal ko is to make it to the finals po talaga. Kung makuha ko po yung goal ko na yon, all out na po doon.”
The wheelchair racer’s other events are the men’s 1,500-meter race on Saturday (Aug. 28) and the 100-meter sprint, beginning with the heats on Sept. 2. The finals will be on a succeeding day.
“Bali gusto din po natin makapasok sa finals. At syempre po, manalo. Ibibigay namin ‘yong best namin,” Aceveda said.
Compounding the discus thrower’s situation is the fact that under the International Paralympic Committee and World Para rules, she will be performing blindfolded to block out whatever feeble light that some athletes might still perceive as means of equalizing the playing field.
Thankfully, Aceveda will have plenty of time to hone her technique together with coach Bernard Buen since the F11 women’s discus throw finals won’t be until Aug. 31 at the Japan National Stadium.
PPC statement on positive cases of COVID-19
Meanwhile, the Philippine Paralympic Committee released an official statement Tuesday, announcing that para-powerlifter Achele “Jinky” Guion won’t be able to compete in the Games after testing positive for COVID-19 together with her coach, Antonio “Tony’’ Taguibao.
“Jinky is deeply frustrated that she will not be able to compete in her powerlifting event for her country after training for so long, and especially getting much inspiration from Hidilyn Diaz, a powerlifter like herself and the first Filipino to win an Olympic medal,’’ PPC president Michael Barredo said.
Other members of the delegation who tested positive for COVID-19 are Chef de Mission Francis Diaz and para-athletics coach Joel Deriada.
Barredo took over as chef de mission in the absence of Diaz to implement tasks involving planning, logistics, and communications, among others, for the team’s orderly navigation in the Paralympics.
“Despite this most unfortunate development, all our para-athletes remain in high spirits and committed to giving their best possible performances to bring honor and glory to our country. Tuloy ang laban. Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino,’’ Barredo said, who will likewise function as the head of the delegation of Team Philippines.
(PCO)
